Tʾien-shih

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Tʾien-shih (Chin., ‘celestial master’). Title of Taoist masters, descendants of Chang Tao-ling, of the wu-tou-mi tao, and of its successor, cheng-i tao. A t'ien-shih has little actual authority, though he may formally recognize the head of Taoist congregations or communities. The Western equation of t'ien-shih with ‘the pope’ of Taoism is wide of the mark.